Animal Rights Extremism: Ministerial Committee

Lord Goldsmith: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What arrangements have been made for the co-ordination of government action to prevent intimidation by animal rights extremists.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Prime Minister has today announced the establishment of a new Ministerial Committee.
	On 28 March the Government announced a range of measures to prevent the intimidation of people who work in, or are connected with, legitimate animal research establishments in our Consultation Paper Animal Rights Extremism: Government Strategy, which was published that day. A new Ministerial Committee has now been formed with the task of taking forward, and wherever possible adding to these initiatives, with the overall aim of reassuring people involved in legitimate research upon animals, whether as scientific workers, managers or investors, that criminal intimidation will not be allowed to succeed.
	The terms of reference for the Committee will be:
	"To co-ordinate policy to protect those who work in, or are connected with, legitimate animal research establishments against intimidation by extremist groups." The membership will be:
	Secretary of State for the Home Department CHAIRMAN
	Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
	Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
	Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment
	Minister of State, Scotland Office
	Economic Secretary to the Treasury
	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office
	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health
	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry
	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office
	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office
	The Chief Scientific Adviser will also be invited to attend meetings of the group. Other outside experts will be invited to attend as necessary.

Millennium Dome

Viscount Simon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What stage the Government have reached in their consideration of future uses for the Millennium Dome.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Following the end of the last competition in February, the Government are taking comprehensive advice on all aspects of a future Dome sale.
	Like many others, including the London Borough of Greenwich, the Government are keen to preserve the benefits of this magnificent structure for Londoners and for the United Kingdom in general, in the context of the regeneration of the Greenwich Peninsula and more widely.
	Advice is being provided by an independent professional team led and managed by English Partnerships on the Government's behalf. This advisory team includes Jones Lang LaSalle, Berwin Leighton and Economic Research Associates.
	During and since the Legacy negotiations, English Partnerships have received more than 100 informal expressions of interest for the Dome and for the development of other parts of the Greenwich Peninsula.
	The Government are looking at these, and, in parallel, testing the market for other interest in using the Dome. Discussions with a number of key organisations are focused at this stage on a small number of potential uses and will take several weeks to complete.
	The process being followed is consistent with professional advice, and with the aim of securing an appropriate use for the Dome which contributes towards the long-term regeneration of the Greenwich Peninsula. We expect a buyer to emerge during the course of this year.
	It would not be appropriate for me to disclose more details at this stage. Once the market testing has been completed and properly considered, we will announce details of the future process.
	In the meantime, the business of NMEC is being wound up in an orderly fashion. The cost of maintaining the Dome is around £0.6 million per month and expected to reduce further.

Mirror Group Newspapers plc

Lord Bruce of Donington: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the total cost of the Inspectors' investigation into the affairs and membership of Mirror Group Newspapers plc; and, in particular, what amounts in respect of their appointments as Inspectors were paid to (a) Sir John Thomas QC and (b) Raymond Turner FCA, such amounts to be broken down between the two Inspectors and between fees and reimbursement of expenses; and
	What amounts were paid in respect of the Inspectors' investigation into the affairs and membership of Mirror Group Newspapers plc to the firm of Neville Russell, such amounts to be broken down between fees and reimbursement of expenses; and
	Whether a further Queen's Counsel was engaged to assist the Inspectors in their investigation into the affairs and membership of Mirror Group Newspapers plc; and, if so, what was his or her identity; and what amounts were paid to him or her in respect of this assistance, such amounts to be broken down between fees and reimbursement of expenses.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The total cost incurred to date of the inspectors' investigations into the affairs and membership of Mirror Group Newspapers is £8,584,959 (excluding Value Added Tax). This sum can be analysed as £1,519,455 in respect of lawyers' fees and expenses and £7,018,745 in respect of accountants' fees and expenses and £46,759 being other sundry costs.
	The lawyers' fees represent payments to Sir John Thomas, the lawyer inspector, and to other Counsel identified in the published report who provided advice and assistance during the course of the inspection. Since taking up his judicial appointment in 1996 Sir John Thomas has not sought payment in respect of his work on the inspection.
	The accountants' fees represent payments to Raymond Turner, the accountant inspector, and for professional and administrative support provided to both inspectors by his firm, Mazars Neville Russell.
	Any more detailed analysis could only be produced at disproportionate cost.

South Africa: Health Care Funding

Baroness Howells of St Davids: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are willing to subsidise the cost of drugs for poor South Africans.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government agree that there is an urgent need to improve access to new and affordable drugs in South Africa and other developing countries. However, direct subsidisation may not be the most effective or sustainable solution. We are working on a range of policy measures which will increase the affordability of and access to drugs.
	The Government are working with developing country governments to strengthen basic health systems, without which the poorest will be unable to access the necessary drugs regardless of cost. We have committed £1 billion since 1997 to help developing countries put in place effective health care systems.
	The Chancellor announced in February, as part of the Global Child Poverty Initiative, and in the Budget statement on 7 March, a number of measures to help increase access to medicines in developing countries. We are also considering a range of policy options with industry, including tiered pricing agreements (selling drugs more cheaply in poor countries) and tax measures including tax credits. In addition we are discussing with other donors, UN agencies and developing countries a Global Health Fund for HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and diseases of childhood.
	We are also currently supporting a number of innovative public private partnerships aimed at tackling the diseases of poverty. These include the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and support for the Global Alliance for Vaccines, the Medicines for Malaria venture, and LAPDAP to treat drug resistant malaria and the StopTB partnership.
	The Government welcome moves by major pharmaceutical companies to reduce prices, and look forward to further reductions to make patented medicines for illnesses affordable in poor countries.

South Africa: Cheap HIV/AIDS Drugs

Baroness Howells of St Davids: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether multinational pharmaceutical companies are attempting to obstruct the South African Government's efforts to obtain cheap drugs; and, if so, what is their response to such attempts.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The pharmaceutical industry dropped its legal action against the South African Government over changes to its medicines legislation on 19 April. The Government welcome the settlement reached between the parties and believe that a constructive partnership between governments, the pharmaceutical industry and civil society provides the most effective way of combating the spread of HIV/AIDS in South Africa and other developing countries.

Employment Statistics

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 3 April (WA 112), what is their estimate of the number of British jobs (a) linked to the export of goods and services to the rest of the world outside the European Union; and (b) in the domestic economy.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: I refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer by my noble friend Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 27 February (Official Report, WA 120) and the letter to the noble Lord from the National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales of 26 February stating that there are no official statistics linking workforce jobs with activities directly contributing to credits on the United Kingdom balance of payment current account.
	It has been estimated, however, that around 6 million jobs in the UK are linked to the exports of goods and services worldwide. Recently published data for workforce jobs in the United Kingdom at December 2000 gave a figure of 29.1 million. The data were published on 11 April in Table 4 of Labour Market Statistics First Release, which is held in the House of Lords Library.

Cluster Munitions

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their policy towards the future use of cluster weapons with particular regard to the clearing of unexploded weapons and bomblets and the protection of people from the danger of injury or death caused by such weapons or bomblets.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Cluster munitions are a legitimate weapon that provide a capability against certain targets which cannot be effectively achieved in other ways. We reserve the right to use the most suitable lawful weapon available in the proportionate manner required by international law. We are aware of concerns about the risk to civilians from unexploded cluster munitions. We will participate positively in discussions in the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons to explore options available to the international community to minimise this risk as part of the general problem of explosive remnants of war.

Northern Ireland: Air Sea Rescue Costs

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the cost of air sea rescue in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The overall cost of the provision of search and rescue in Northern Ireland cannot be readily disaggregated from the wider expenditure of providing the trooping capability, which is the Wessex's primary role. However, the following figures give an estimate of the no loss costs of those SAR missions undertaken by the Wessex aircraft in Northern Ireland, which provide the majority of the SAR cover, over the last five years:
	
		
			 Year No of Call Outs Wessex Costs 
			 1996 31 £74,400 
			 1997 27 £64,800 
			 1998 34 £81,600 
			 1999 29 £69,600 
			 2000 23 £55,200

Army Summary Jurisdiction Appeals

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many summary jurisdiction appeals have been received from the Army; and how many of those appeals have been upheld or rejected or have resulted in reduced sentences.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There have been a total of 5,561 summary dealings for the period 1 October 2000-31 March 2001. During this period the Army has received 136 summary jurisdiction appeals. A total of 21 of these appeals have been upheld, 22 have been quashed and 34 have been mitigated. There are a further 19 of these cases still awaiting hearing or the result.

Centre for Defence Medicine

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current establishment for the Centre for Defence Medicine; and which of those posts are filled and which are not.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Centre for Defence Medicine is intended to develop over a number of years as functions move to it from elsewhere in the Defence Medical Services, with its establishment and manning levels increasing progressively over the period. There are currently 72 posts filled by Service personnel and this is expected to rise to some 100 at the end of the year, by which time it is expected that there will also be a substantial number of military personnel training under Centre for Defence Medicine auspices.

Combat Effectiveness and Gender: Study

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the tests carried out for the possible employment of women in armoured regiments and infantry battalions; how many women started these tests; how many completed these tests; on what the tests were based; and how they were analysed.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: On announcing the extension to 70 per cent of Army posts open to women, the previous Secretary of State for Defence, Lord Robertson, also commissioned an investigation as to whether employment opportunities for women in the Armed Forces could be expanded still further. The Army initially led on this investigation, carrying out a study on behalf of all three Services into the effect of gender upon combat effectiveness. A report is due to be presented to Ministers later this year. I will write to the noble Lord when the way forward has been decided, and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Ministry of Defence Police Quinquennial Review

Lord Milner of Leeds: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the quinquennial review of the Ministry of Defence Police will take place; what the aim of the review is; and what the arrangements for the review will be.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The quinquennial review (QQR) of the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) will begin in April 2001. The review will examine the role, operations and organisation of the MDP with a view to establishing the requirement for its services in the future, and how these can best be delivered.
	Work to prepare for the QQR has already begun. This has principally involved canvassing the views of the MDP's customers about its effectiveness, and gathering other information with which to assess the MDP's performance since it became an agency in April 1996. Stage one of the QQR will address three fundamental questions: to what extent is there a continuing requirement for the services currently provided by the MDP; how far could organisations other than the MDP contribute to meeting those future requirements; and, if a continuing requirement for MDP services is confirmed, what organisational configuration should it have. If continued agency status is confirmed, the second stage of the QQR will develop more detailed proposals for continuing improvements in performance and quality of service delivery.
	The MDP is by no means the only organisation involved in providing policing and security services to the MoD. The review will therefore examine its interface with other practitioners (including Service police forces) to ensure that the MDP operates in a "joined up" way with them, focusing in particular on the scope for partnership working and the spread of best practice. It will also examine the way the relationship between the MDP and other UK police forces is evolving.
	I expect to see advice arising from stage one of the review in the summer, and from stage two, if pursued, in the autumn.
	The review team will consult widely with all stakeholders, including customer organisations, the MDP management team, Agency staff, the Defence Police Federation, Civil Service Trades Unions, other police forces, and relevant policy staffs in MoD, the Home Office, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Treasury and the Cabinet Office. The MoD is also keen to hear the views of other organisations or individuals with an interest. These can be sent to the MDP QQR Team, Room 4113, MoD Main Building, London SW1A 2HB.

Woodland Management: Forestry Commission Support

Baroness Nicol: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they plan to review the Forestry Commission's support for the management of existing woodland.

Baroness Hayman: Woodland makes an important contribution to the rural economy and is essential to the character of the English countryside. However, many of our woods are undermanaged and are not delivering the potential range of benefits to their owners or to society as a whole. The Forestry Commission plays a key role in ensuring the sustainable management of our woodland.
	The commission has been asked to review its support for the sustainable management of existing woodland in accordance with the priorities of the Government's Forestry Strategy for England and in the light of the UK Forestry Standard.
	The review will help to focus the Commission's work on finding ways to engage woodland owners effectively in implementing the England Forestry Strategy. This will help owners to sustain their own plans while supporting the rural economy and improving the environment for the benefit of all. While the review will consider the effectiveness of existing Forestry Commission grant schemes, we are keen to see ideas emerging on the whole range of support measures through partnerships, advice, training and market development.
	The review will be managed by a steering group including woodland owners and managers and representatives from appropriate government departments and agencies, as well as from Wildlife and Countryside Link. Anthony Bosanquet, president of the CLA and a non-executive Forestry Commissioner, will chair the steering group. There will be widespread public consultation, including a series of regional seminars later this year.
	The Commission has been asked to submit its recommendations to Her Majesty's Government within 12 months.

Foot and Mouth Disease: Withdrawal of Restrictions

Lord Blaker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	During the 1967-68 epidemic of foot and mouth disease, what was the lapse of time, after the last case of the disease to occur, before the area affected was permitted to be used again in the normal way.

Baroness Hayman: Restrictions on the movement of people or animals to or from infected premises were withdrawn 28 days after the completion of cleansing and disinfection of the premises, or 42 days after the slaughter of animals (whichever was earlier). If there had been a number of outbreaks in close proximity, these periods related to the last local case. Restocking was generally allowed after the original restriction notice was withdrawn.
	Infected areas were reduced to a radius of five miles around the infected premises 14 days after confirmation of the outbreak. If no further outbreaks were confirmed in the following week, all restrictions were removed. If there were a number of outbreaks in one area, restrictions were kept in force for the respective number of days after the last case in the area.
	Controlled area restrictions were usually removed as soon as all in-contact animals had been located and slaughtered or placed under restrictions and observed.
	There were special arrangements for restocking in areas where there had been heavy and persistent infection. Farmers could restock with up to 50 animals, but restocking with sheep was not permitted because of the difficulty of recognising early signs of the disease in sheep. Movement controls were maintained for a further six weeks, at which point restocking with sheep was allowed.

Cyprus

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given Britain's special interest in Cyprus as one of the three guarantor countries, what progress was made towards securing a peaceful settlement in Cyprus as a result of the visit to the Foreign Office Minister, Keith Vaz, on 13 and 14 March.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: During his visit to Cyprus last month the Minister for Europe reiterated to President Clerides, Foreign Minister Kasoulides and Mr Denktash the UK's continued strong support for the UN process and urged all involved to seek ways to move it forward. We will continue to deliver this clear message and to support the UN Secretary General's efforts to secure a peaceful settlement in Cyprus.

Gibraltar

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have received requests from Spain to negotiate on the sovereignty of Gibraltar, in light of the interview with the Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, in the Daily Telegraph on 22 March; and what the government response has been to any such requests.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In 1984, the then British and Spanish Governments established a negotiating process (often referred to as the Brussels Process) aimed at overcoming all their differences over Gibraltar, in which all issues, including sovereignty, would be discussed. Meetings at ministerial and official level have taken place intermittently since then. At these meetings Her Majesty's Government have maintained their commitment to honour the freely and democratically expressed wishes of the people of Gibraltar, as set out in the preamble to Gibraltar's 1969 Constitution. Her Majesty's Government will shortly be discussing with the Spanish Government how best to take forward the Brussels Process.

Blundeston Prison and Hollesley Bay YOI: Possible Evacuation

Lord Hill-Norton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 23 January (WA 8), whether their search for evidence of any instructions concerning the possible evacuation of Blundeston Prison and Hollesley Bay Young Offender Institution included an examination of the governor's journals for these two establishments; and whether these journals have been retained.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Governors' journals are the most likely source of this information so long after the event. The governor's journal at Blundeston remains in existence and was examined.
	The relevant governor's journal for Hollesley Bay could not now be found, and in the absence of any other written record, long-serving staff, including the governor's secretary, were consulted. They did not recall any instruction to prepare for an evacuation although they well remembered the local events of the time which prompted speculation about such an instruction.

Criminal Records Bureau: Registered Persons' Code of Practice

Lord Lipsey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the code of practice in connection with the use of information provided to registered persons by the Criminal Records Bureau.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The code of practice for registered persons and other recipients of disclosure information is being published today under section 122(1) of the Police Act 1997, and will be placed on the Criminal Records Bureau's website as well. The code has also today been laid before Parliament in accordance with Section 122(2) of the Act. In addition, we are publishing today an explanatory guide for registered persons and other recipients of disclosure information, and copies are being placed in the Library.